March 23 is D-Day : 18:3:2005

UK record companies trade association the BPI is warning its members that they have just days to ensure they are prepared for the historic inclusion of downloads to the Official Singles Chart published on April 17.

 

Labels releasing singles with download formats on April 10 – the first download-eligible chart week - will need to submit their metadata to CatCo by this Wednesday (March 23) to ensure their digital releases qualify for the chart.

 

But the BPI reports positive progress in moves to improve the representation of independent labels online.

 

 

Metadata deadline

 

Rules for the new combined Official Singles Chart state that metadata – essentially what used to be known as label copy - for downloads must be submitted three weeks ahead of release to CatCo.

 

This means that for singles due to be released on April 10, the deadline is March 23.

 

BPI Chairman Peter Jamieson said, “In the new world of a combined physical-digital singles chart, the timely submission of accurate metadata needs to become a priority for labels. If CatCo and the Official UK Charts Company do not have the right data, they cannot identify tracks accurately and there is a danger that genuine sales may be missed.

 

“If companies do not get it right, it could affect their chart positions.”

 

 

Launch of a new chart era

 

Jamieson said, “The launch of the all-new Official Singles Chart is the biggest news in charts since the switch away from manual sales diaries to electronic compilation in 1983.”

 

The BPI has been working with the Official UK Charts Company (OCC) on plans to integrate downloads into the mainstream singles business for nearly two years. A significant milestone was reached on 1 September 2004 with the launch of the Official Download Chart. The addition of downloads into the Official Singles Chart on April 17 marks the culmination of the process.

 

 

Independents and the new chart

 

BPI Director of Communications & Development Steve Redmond also reported significant progress in the BPI’s campaign to improve the representation of independents on the major download platforms.

 

“It is vital that independents are able to compete on a level playing field and that is why we have put so much time and resource into this issue,” he said.

 

The BPI has been engaged on a multi-pronged campaign to help the independent sector benefit from the download market:

> writing to all the major MSPs on February 8 urging them to prioritise deals with independent labels;

> monitoring each week’s chart and pro-actively calling labels that are not represented online and attempting to help them;

> securing a postponement of the inclusion of downloads into the Official Singles Chart from March 20 to April 17 in order to give independents more time to prepare;

> running a series of seminars focused on raising awareness and understanding among independent labels of what they need to do to compete in the new chart, entitled “Getting Your Music Online”;

> commissioning a 12 page BPI guide for independents that will come free with this week’s Music Week called “Getting your singles online”. < DOWNLOAD THE MUSIC WEEK GUIDE HERE >

 

 

“This has been a significant BPI campaign focused on helping our independent members, and I’m glad to say it seems to be bearing fruit,” said Redmond.

 

This table indicates the availability of independent singles as downloads on the biggest UK download platforms over the past five weeks.

 

“This is a complex area and no one is pretending that all the problems can be solved overnight,” said Redmond. “But there has been a huge effort on the part of both labels and MSPs and I am convinced that together we are going to make April 17 a huge opportunity for us all.”